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High school student arrested for having pocket knives in backpack

Police say the knives were never brandished as a weapon

A Thunder Mountain High School student was arrested midmorning Friday for having pocket knives on school grounds, police say.

The 14-year-old boy was lodged at a juvenile detention facility after responding police officers found two small folding blade pocket knives in his backpack, Juneau Police Department Sgt. Dominic Branson said in a phone interview.

According to a JPD news release, the school’s principal reported it to police at 11:20 a.m., and while officers were en route, school employees escorted the student outside of the building.

During that time, the student allegedly made threatening comments and actions, placing two staff members in fear, police say. The knives were never brandished as a weapon, police say.

The student was arrested on suspicion of fourth-degree assault for exhibiting threatening behavior and fourth-degree weapons misconduct for possessing knives on school grounds. He was taken to the Johnson Youth Center.

Both those offenses are class ‘A’ misdemeanors that can each carry up to one year of prison or a $10,000 fine as a maximum possible penalty.

It was not immediately known how school authorities discovered the student was in possession of the knives.

The Juneau School District could not be reached Saturday for comment. The student’s name was not released since he is a minor.